James Shigeta (born June 17, 1933) is an American film and television actor. He is also a standards singer, musical theatre and nightclub performer, and recording artist. He is a Sansei or third-generation American of Japanese ancestry.
Born in Hawaii of Japanese ancestry, Shigeta studied drama at New York University. While studying, he entered and won first prize on Ted Mack's television talent show, Original Amateur Hour. Before he could fully ...
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James Shigeta (born June 17, 1933) is an American film and television actor. He is also a standards singer, musical theatre and nightclub performer, and recording artist. He is a Sansei or third-generation American of Japanese ancestry.
Born in Hawaii of Japanese ancestry, Shigeta studied drama at New York University. While studying, he entered and won first prize on Ted Mack's television talent show, Original Amateur Hour. Before he could fully embark on a business career, Shigeta enlisted to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. He moved to Japan and starred in four Japanese musical films. While there, he also recorded a best selling record.
Shigeta first came on screen in the U.S., in 1959 as Detective Joe Koajku in Crimson Kimono. He was cast in two more feature films before being awarded a Golden Globe Award for the most promising male newcomer. Yet, it was not until he was cast in the 1961 theatrical version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song that he...
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